Job fair draws 300

CHARLEVOIX — About 300 job seekers turned out Tuesday to explore the employment possibilities available at a job fair Northwest Michigan Works! hosted at Castle Farms.

Employers in fields ranging from manufacturing to local government to hospitality — numbering about 20 in all — were on hand to seek applicants for employment.

“I was pleased with the turnout (as far as) applicants and employers,” said Bill Woodrow, operations manager for the Michigan Works! service center in Petoskey.

This was the second year in which the workforce services agency arranged a chance for job seekers to interact with multiple prospective employers in one setting. Last spring’s job fair drew about 400 people in search of employment.

And with two fairs scheduled in this area this year — the second is set for Tuesday, April 7, in Petoskey — Michigan Works! is on pace to see a larger number of job seekers than in 2008.

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Given the area’s rise in unemployment during the past year, this was a trend that agency staff expected beforehand.

While the resort industry that’s a key part of the local economy has plenty of seasonal openings again this year, Woodrow noted that entry-level positions in manufacturing — which traditionally has been another mainstay for the area — have become fewer and farther between as companies have shut down local operations.

Charlevoix’s Wojan Window & Door Corp. was among the employers at the job fair with positions to fill. Patrick Bubin, vice president for sales and marketing at the manufacturing company, noted that the firm is seeking candidates for a marketing/communications assistant, structural/design engineer and sales manager.

Bubin noted that he saw a steady flow of inquiries through the early part of the job fair, and identified a couple of promising leads for job candidates.

“We’ve seen a little of everything,” he said, noting that applicants showed a wide range of work backgrounds. “If anything, it’s just a clear reflection of the situation with the economy.”

David Marvin, business manager for Stafford’s Hospitality, noted that his company is looking to fill about 60 seasonal slots at its four hotel and restaurant properties around Emmet and Charlevoix counties, along with one full-time lead housekeeping position.

During Tuesday’s job fair, he said the firm made contact with a handful of promising candidates for the full-time opening, and got a “good start” fielding applicants for the seasonal ones.

“I thought it was a great turnout,” he said.

Scott Redman, whose work background is in quality assurance, was among the job-seekers who dropped in for Tuesday’s fair. Laid off from his last position about four months ago as a result of slowing sales, he’s hoping to stay in Northwest Michigan.

The Petoskey resident said seasonal positions seemed more plentiful Tuesday than the full-time sort he’d most like to obtain, but he did see a handful of openings — both short- and long-term — in communications and manufacturing that he plans to follow up on.

“I’m someone who’s looking for a full-time position, but as we all know with the job market, seasonal positions can help full that gap,” the 49-year-old Redman said.

Another opportunity

Northwest Michigan Works! will host its second job fair of the year 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Emmet County Fairgrounds in Petoskey. Angie Ross, a Michigan Works! business liaison, said about 32 employers — a few more than were represented at the agency’s Charlevoix job fair — are expected to be on hand for the Petoskey event.